Chapter 2

Lucas scowled when I still did not budge. "Scarlett, look at me. I'm ruined. Don't you even care enough to comfort me?"

Lily tried to play the peacemaker, though her eyes flickered with impatience. "Maybe Scarlett is just in shock, Lucas. It's a lot to take in."

I made way more money than Lucas did, and I had always been generous. Whenever he asked for cash, I handed it over without second thoughts as long as it wasn't completely ridiculous.

Maybe he figured asking for my entire bank account straight up was too big of a leap, so he did not suspect a thing. He just sighed dramatically. "Look, Lily saved my life. She pulled me out of that wreckage. The least you can do is show some appreciation."

He pointed at my bag. "Since you didn't bring a gift, write her a check."

"Oh no, I couldn't possibly take your money," Lily stammered, putting on a modest show.

"I insist," Lucas said softly, "She's giving it to you, so you take it."

It was a total play-by-play of my past life.

Back then, the second Lucas said those words, I wrote Lily a check for five thousand dollars on the spot. I believed saving a life was priceless. Over the years, I constantly bought her high-end makeup and luxury skincare sets just to express my gratitude.

I remembered how her eyes used to glint whenever she accepted my gifts. At the time, I thought she was just being shy. Now I realized she was mocking my utter stupidity.

This time, I stood frozen. Annoyed by my hesitation, Lucas reached out to grab my phone off the bedside table.

He knew my passcode. In my past life, he secretly transferred thousands of dollars to Lily behind my back. Every single time I confronted him, he shut me down by throwing his debt of gratitude in my face.

I snatched my phone back before his fingers touched it and stepped out of his reach. "I don't mind writing a check to say thanks. But first, I have a few questions."

Lucas blinked, completely thrown off. He was not used to me pushing back when money was involved. Lily froze, too.

I turned my eyes straight to Lily. "So, Lucas told me the car door was jammed shut, but you pried it open with your bare hands?"

That was the story Lucas fed me back then. The details were full of holes. In my past life, whenever I asked for clarification, Lucas flew into a rage. He accused me of being heartless, screaming that he almost died while I was obsessing over useless details.

Eventually, I became too terrified to ask. I stopped bringing up the crash altogether just to keep from triggering his pain.

Lily’s eyes darted around the room. "I can explain the details to you in private, Scarlett. We really shouldn't bring up the crash in front of Lucas. He’s already traumatized, and I don't want to trigger him."

A cold laugh escaped my throat. "Are you worried about triggering him, or do you just need time to get your stories straight?"

Both of their faces turned pale, then dark.

"What’s that supposed to mean?" they snapped in unison.

Their timing was seamless. It was that exact teamwork that kept me fooled for forty years, leaving me broke and dead by the end of it.

I swallowed the bitter rage in my throat and forced a calm smile. "If a grown man couldn't kick the door open, how did a petite girl like you pry it loose? You don't exactly look like a powerlifter.

"Besides, forcing open crushed metal would tear your hands to pieces. The cuts on your palms don't look like scrap metal wounds. They look like shallow razor slits."

My voice dropped, cold and sharp. "And one more thing. The crash happened two days ago. Why did you just show up now? Word on the street is you got into a car accident two days ago, too. Isn't that a crazy coincidence?"

"That’s enough!" Lucas cut me off with a furious roar before I could finish.

They were still young, and Lily's nerve was already cracking. Tears welled in her eyes as she pulled a helpless, victimized act. "Lucas, I had no idea Scarlett would suspect me like this. If she's going to treat me like a criminal, I should just go."